§ Mr. Ben ChapmanTo ask the honourable Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners (1) if he will make a statement on the timetable for the Commissioners' response to the DTI's discussion document on Employment Status in relation to Statutory Employment Rights; [87260]
(2) how many people whose salaries are paid by Church funds are not covered by employment legislation; [87261]
(3) what the terms of reference of the working group on clergy employment arrangements established by the Archbishops' Council are, and who the members are; [87281]
(4) if he would make a statement on the Archbishops' Council's announcement of 10th December on clergy employment.rights [87275]
§ Mr. BellThe Archbishops' Council has responded to the DTI's discussion document on Employment Status in relation to Statutory Employment Rights. A copy of the response has been placed in the Library, along with the terms of reference and membership of the working group, and I am happy to provide the hon. Gentleman with his own copy.
From this he will note that there are approximately 9,000 clergy on the central payroll not covered by employment legislation, of which 5,500 have the freehold (and thus have greater employment security than most employees) and 3,500 operate under a bishop's licence (and have less).